March 19, 2020
News & Resources for the Cape Ann Business & Non-Profit Community

  • Washington (CNN): “President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a coronavirus relief package that includes provisions for free testing for Covid-19 and paid emergency leave.” Read the full story here.

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Unemployment Assistance: “Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact”. Carranza added.

  • Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications here. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

  • Massachusetts Small Business Emergency Loan Fund: The Baker-Polito Administration on March 16 announced economic support for small businesses with a $10 million loan fund to provide financial relief to those that have been affected by COVID-19. Read the full story here.

  • The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), in coordination with the US Department of Labor (USDOL), are taking a series of actions to assist workers and employers. Find more details here. To assist individuals who cannot work due to the impact of COVID-19, the administration is filing emergency legislation that will allow new claims to be paid more quickly by waiving the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits.


  • The Chamber office will be open by appointment only, with Chamber staff working remotely from home. All team members are available by email, and calls to the Chamber will be monitored and voice mail messages will be responded to a member of the Chamber team.

  • The Chamber has created a special COVID-19 information and resource page on our website here. Please send business updates to Olivia Perez-O’Dess (olivia@capeannchamber.com) so that we may share these with the Cape Ann community.
  • The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department is offering pick-up and delivery services for residents identified as higher risk of serious health complications should they contract the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) or for those who are self-quarantined. This includes the delivery of groceries, prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines and vital supplies. Manchester residents are asked to call 978-526-1212 to set up deliveries and for all non-emergency matters.

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  • As we learn of more creative ways that you our members are adapting and responding, we will share them through all of our Chamber communications channels
  • To help support the community we have compiled a running list of businesses and restaurants that are offering take-out, delivery and/or curb-side pickup. See the full list here.

  • Cape Ann Pharmacy Hours and Operations:

  • Walgreens in Rockport: Hours have not changed; Mon - Sat 8am -8pm, Sunday 9am -5pm

  • Allen's Pharmacy, Manchester-by-the-Sea: Hours have been reduced. Filling online prescription orders. Call (978) 526-1321 for details.

  • CVS Thatcher Rd., Gloucester: Hours have not changed. Open: 8am -10pm. CVS has a Covid-19 hotline 1-888-300-4419.

  • CVS Main St, Gloucester: Hours have not changed. Open 8am -9pm CVS has a Covid-19 hotline 1-888-300-4419.

  • Walgreens Main St., Gloucester: Hours have not changed. This is a 24 hour store. Store manager having daily conference calls with their corporate office about hours. We will update store hour information as we learn of any changes.

  • Please Check our website for the most current additions to this list.

  • Stop & Shop in Gloucester and Shaw’s in Peabody are hiring. For details about Stop and Shop positions visit www.itsmycareer.com and enter Stop & Shop; for details about Shaw’s in Peabody click here.

  • The Open Door: The Open Door is making every effort to keep our programs operating during this COVID-19 (Coronavirus) event, with some adjustments. Please check their Facebook page for updates:

  • Gloucester Food Pantry: Open Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM, for curbside pick-up; clients are asked not to enter the building. Pull up to the front of our building on Emerson Ave., and a volunteer or staff member will bring you groceries pre-packed for your household size. If you work during this time, or are quarantined and unable to pick up groceries, please call 978-283-6776 or email gethelp@foodpantry.org.

  • A message to the community from Action Inc.

  • Action Inc. is here to help! We remain committed to our mission and will continue to serve the community in the face of current challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While our Main Office (180 Main St.) and Energy Office (47 Washington St.) are now temporarily closed, we continue to provide services via phone appointments and email. Our Emergency Shelter remains open and operational.

  • All Main Office and Energy Office services will be available Monday – Friday 9am-5pm. If you have general inquiries or questions, please call 978-282-1000 or help@actioninc.org. You can also live chat with our team members at actioninc.org

  • For program specific questions or issues please use the following contact information:






  • All messages are being picked up and responded to throughout the day

  • Read the latest update from the City of Gloucester on the Coronavirus here

  • Supermarket Hours:

  • Market Basket: Unchanged: Mon-Sat 7am - 9pm; Sunday 7am -7pm. Seniors hours: 6 - 7:30am.

  • Shaw’s Railroad Ave: Hours have been shortened by one hour. Hours are 7am -8pm.

  • Shaw’s Eastern Ave: Hours have been shortened by one hour. Hours are 7am -8pm.

  • Stop & Shop Thatcher Rd: Hours have changed as follows: Open 7:30am - 8pm Seniors hours: 6am -7:30am.

  • Please check our website for the most current additions to this list.

  • Rockport Music & Shalin Liu Performance Center: Starting this week, we will be presenting our Midday Music Series , posting a new video each Tuesday and Friday around noon of some of our favorite highlights from performances at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. You will be able to find the video on our website(starting next week), on our social media pages (Facebook , Instagram , Twitter), and in email.

  • Chelsea Berry will be doing a Facebook Live ‘concert’ from her living room on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm.
For the most current information about the federal, state and local response to COVID-19 – including information of particular relevance to employers and employees, we recommend visiting the following official websites: 

Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), an excellent source of information about state and federal actions in support of the business community: https://aimnet.org/resources/




Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 from OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

For information and updates specific to one’s local community, we recommend visiting the following city and town websites for Cape Ann:

For Essex: www.essexma.org

For Gloucester:   www.gloucester-ma.gov

For Manchester-by-the-Sea: www.manchester.ma.us

For Rockport: www.rockportma.gov

Our goal as always is to serve as a trusted resource in providing our business community and residents with helpful information and guidance during the Coronavirus pandemic.

All the members of your team here at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce wish you the very best, as we all pull together to meet and overcome the challenges of COVID-19.